Telangana State Archaeology Museum

Telangana State Archeology Museum

The museum building
Location within Hyderabad Telangana State Archaeology Museum (Telangana) Telangana State Archaeology Museum (India)
Former names	Hyderabad Museum Andhra Pradesh State Museum Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy State Museum
Established	March 1931, 31 (31-03-1931)
Location	Public Gardens, Nampally, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Coordinates	17.39925017927321°N 78.47031633170265°E / 17.39925017927321; 78.47031633170265
Type	archaeological museum
Key holdings	Egyptian mummy, numismatics
Founder	Mir Osman Ali Khan
Public transit access	Nampally Metro Station
Nearest parking	On site

Telangana State Archaeology Museum or Hyderabad Museum is a museum located in Hyderabad, India. It is the oldest museum in Hyderabad.

History

Henry Cousens is the first person to have recorded in carrying out archaeological explorations in Hyderabad State in 19th century. Department of Archaeology was established in 1914. Telangana State Archaeology Museum then known as Hyderabad Museum was first established in 1927. The museum was then located at Town Hall where today Stated Assembly is located. The museum was later shifted to the present building constructed by the seventh Nizam. In 1930 the museum was named as Hyderabad Museum by the Nizam. The museum was formally inaugurated by the Nizam on 31st March 1931.

The museum was renamed as Andhra Pradesh State Archaeology Museum in 1960 after formation of Andhra Pradesh. The museum was later renamed as Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy State Museum in 2009.

In 2008, a sword belonging to the Nizam and other artifacts were stolen from the museum.

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014, the museum was renamed Telangana State Archeology Museum.

Egyptian Mummy at the museum

Mummy of daughter of the VI Pharaoh of the Egypt (300-100)BC

Bust of Buddha in the Telangana State Archeology Museum

Collection

Egyptian

This museum's most popular attraction is its Egyptian mummy of Princess Naishu which was brought in 1930 to Hyderabad by Nasir Nawaz Jung, the son-in-law of Asaf Jah VI. He presented it to the Asaf Jah VII, who donated it to the museum. He had reportedly bought it for 1000 pounds. It is one of the six Egyptian mummies in India, the others being in Lucknow, Mumbai, Vadodara, Jaipur, and Kolkata.

The mummy, which previously was deteriorating, was restored in 2016 and placed in an oxygen-free case.

Indian

There is a huge gallery on Buddha dating back to the last century. The museum has a wide variety of archaeological artifacts from the Nizam and Kakatiya dynasty.

Bronze Sculpture Gallery

• 
  Vishnu - Bhoga Sayana Murthy in Bronze
• 
  Vishnu - Viswarupa Sandarsana.
• 
  Statue of Sita Ram Lakshman
• 
  Bronze Deepmala
• 
  Statue of Tara on throne

Ajanta Fresco Gallery

The world famous Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra are adorned with beautiful paintings depicting Buddha's doctrine, life events and Jakarta stories, the caves were discovered accidentally by British Soldiers in 1819. The paintings are dated from 1st -2nd and 6th-7th century. The paintings have been copied by John Griffiths.

• 
  Vessantara Jataka - Ajanta Caves XVII
• 
  Bodhitsatva Padmapani in Compassionate Mood
• 
  The ogress in disguise enters the King harem Ajanta Caves
• 
  Hamsa Jataka - Cave no, XVII- Ajanta Caves

Gallery

• 
  Gallery
• 
  Chariot
• 
  Bronze idols
• 
  Kakatiya mandapam
• 
  Buddha stupa
• 
  Mahavira Statue, 12th Century

See also

• Nizam's Museum